Help from you FENDER BASS players out there!

atomic_punk · Post by **atomic_punk** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 7:47 am

Only problem with the Ebay Jazz is that it's fretless. Otherwise I would have been on it!
Always wanted an Oly White one!

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 7:52 am

Seymour duncan makes several good pickups for fender style basses ... the antiquity and the 1/4 pound ones are excellent ... and I second the idea of replacing the bridge as well ...

tony_carey · Post by **tony_carey** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 8:39 am

I've recorded several bass players with MIM basses & to a man, they have always been let down by the pickups. They seem to be very inconsistent, whilst the MIA Fenders have fabulous pickups & never seem to fail to deliver the goods in a studio situation.

ajish4 · Post by **ajish4** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 9:26 am

Thanks everyone,

Chris: The link you referred me to is amazing! Now I'm REALLY CONFUSED! SO many choices.

I looked at the $300.00 JAZZ on Ebay. Anyone know if that bass will give me that classic sound I'm looking for being the pups were swapped out? I'll ask the seller about the neck width.

Judging JUST BY LOOKS, I really like this bass..
http://www.guitarjapan.com/fenderjapan/spec_jazzbass/jb62-73.html

I'd really like to get a Fender that has a THIN NECK, can anyone suggest the letter style neck for the thinnest style neck Fender makes?

iamthebassman · Post by **iamthebassman** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 9:30 am

My guess is the J used on the recording had "the ****** bent metal bridge".

I've got a new MIM J and a new SX J.

alanz · Post by **alanz** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 9:57 am

Yeah, probably. Too bad he didn't have something with a little heft to replace it with, eh?

jps · Post by **jps** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 3:39 pm

A = 1 1/2" nut
B = 1 5/8" nut
C = 1 3/4" nut

The sound you are looking for may also be with the mute as pics I have seen of David show the bridge cover on, which may have (or not) the foam mute.

I have had several Fenders over the years and there is no shame in owning/playing one... well, maybe!

revolver323 · Post by **revolver323** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 4:36 pm

I would guess that David was using LaBella flats on that recording, mainly because almost the entire bass playing population of America used them back then. Gauges are 052/ .073/ .095/ .110. I played them until I discovered Rotosound Swing Bass in 1971. I had a '59 P bass and never had a problem getting that Motown sound. Bass wide open on both knobs, Fender Bassman head powering 2 JBL D140 15" speakers in a non-ported cabinet, treble on 10, bass on 4, volume never went above 5. Almost every other bass player I knew at the time had the bass cranked up to 10 on the head and their sound had no definition. I thank my buddy Ken, who showed me the Power of Treble. Never even heard of midrange until 1976. Not sure I'm glad I did.

Today the best "Fender" basses on the market are the Duck Dunn, Joe Osborne (jazz) or Bob Glaub models from Lakland.

325_fan · Post by **325_fan** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 12:32 am

Flatwound strings were the norm back then and probably attributed to "that" sound. There's a natural compression that you get when running directly into the board.

You can't get any sound you want with your Alembic?

Fenders made in Asia are typically of better quality that those made in Mexico.

ajish4 · Post by **ajish4** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 1:52 am

Thanks everyone for all the information.

I am amazed again at all the knowledge on this forum.

I decided to get that Mexi Jazz that Bob had suggested, *THANKS BOB, you did it again! Alan, thanks to you too, your opinion helped clinch it fr me. I figured, for $300.00 if I decide it isn't for me, I hope not to have a problem should I decide to sell it!

The kicker was the seller threw in a like new Fender HS case for $35.00 and it has (what I now know thanks to Jeff) an "A" neck. The seller stated it measures 1.5" at the nut. I really like that.

Chris asked about getting the sound I'm looking for with my Alembic. I can get close, especially since my Alembic EPIC has TI Flats on it, but, and I know this may sound strange, the Alembic actually sounds too "clean" if that is the right word? It doesn't have that bottom end THUMP I'm looking for. Not to mention the fact, I'm CONSTANTLY being asked "don't you have a Fender"? That makes me NUTS! I recently snapped and actually told a guitar player I played with "I've got an Alembic and a RIC with me, don't you think they are of a high enough caliber to have the low end covered"? I figure if I'm going to get a FENDER, I want it to sound as close to the sound I described.

The majority seems to feel the MIJ basses are the way to go. I'm going to keep an eye out and see if an inexpensive Reissue 1962 MIJ pops up on Ebay. In the mean time, I have to sell something to keep my magic number at 4 to keep the "upper management" happy!

I must be getting old. I find myself listening to music I NEVER would have thought I'd listen to my entire life. I'm going back to basics and I find myself playing a pocket style. I really am trying to learn the old adage of "less is more" when I play. Funny thing is, I'm enjoying it more!

Thanks again everyone, I'll let you all know when the new addition arrives.

lowendbob · Post by **lowendbob** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 3:29 am

Tony, congrats. Let us know what you think when it arrives. If you don't like it I may be interested.

I regret selling this one. By far the best jazz I have owned.
Custom Shop 64 NOS RI RB Classic # 7 of 10

ajish4 · Post by **ajish4** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 3:49 am

Hey Bob,

Wow, that is one pretty bass! I love the chrome covers! Did all Fenders come with them? I see the covers for sale on Ebay and was wondering if they had something to do with the sound. Jeff had mentioned something about them, I wonder....

You got it Bob, you've got first dibbs should I sell it!

I have to sell off a bass or two to keep in good graces with the Mrs. I went a bit nutty, again, on the CC and before the bill arrives, I better do something quick!

Besides, now the with the Fender, I'm TWO over my bag limit of 4!

lowendbob · Post by **lowendbob** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 4:12 am

Tony, Not all Fenders come with the ashtray and neck pickup covers, but they sure look cool, and the neck cover makes a good thumb rest. IMO they do not effect the sound.
Now all you need is this for the authentic Motown sound.

revolver323 · Post by **revolver323** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 4:16 am

If you listen to any of the Stax/Volt (Sam & Dave), Atlantic (Wilson Pickett, Aretha) or Motown Records from 1963 on, you'll here some of the best basic yet inventive bass playing around.

ajish4 · Post by **ajish4** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 4:32 am

Bob:

I'm speechless, and anyone who knows me will tell you, that takes some doing.

I see a SEXY little shape peaking out of the left side of the picture, is that a C64 or an S? I can't make it out!

Hey Dave,

You've hit the nail on the head. I feel like I've been living in a bubble! I'm listening to Motown, Sly, Larry Graham era stuff. Its all new to me! I mean I've heard the songs before while I was growing up, but I've never really LISTENED to them!

I'm a 70's Progressive rock hound and I have some bad habits I really need to correct! If it wasn't YES, Pink Floyd, Moody Blues, Rush, Nektar type stuff, I didn't listen to it! I did that for about 29 years!

I'm only now realizing how much I limited my playing by not taking in ALL styles of music! Next stop, Blues & Jazz. Another area I have to work in. It's going to be difficult, that un-resolved stuff just makes me NUTS!